Ferguson police

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/mar/04/ferguson-police-justice-department-reports

Attorney general Eric Holder said a “searing” justice department report on racial discrimination by Ferguson police contained “deeply alarming” documentation of “abusive and dangerous” behaviour.

Holder defended a justice department decision not to bring charges against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the killing last August of Michael Brown. “I urge you to read this report in full,” he said, addressing skeptics.

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Ferguson has fired one officer and put two others on leave, pending an internal investigation, mayor James Knowles said. Knowles said a new civilian task force would now take part in overseeing the police department, that the city had commissioned a consulting firm, and that the municipal courts have been ordered to reform.

A justice department report exposed a pattern of racist and abusive behaviour on the part of Ferguson police and city employees.

Ferguson police systematically harassed, over-ticketed, insulted, wrongfully arrested, the report found and physically abused African-American residents, with sometimes shattering implications for the lives of the abuse victims.

The report said police dogs were only used against black people and Tasers were over-used. It published racist emails passed among city employees.

Holder called the Ferguson police department a “collection agency” for the city instead of a law enforcement agency.

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http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/mar/04/justice-department-reports-ferguson-michael-brown-full-text

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[Ferguson's police and municipal court policies are shaped by focus on revenue rather than public safety needs.]

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